desarrollar
/deh-sah-rroh-YAR/
to develop
A plant growing represents the process of developing a skill or a physical body.
desarrollar(verb)
to develop
?improving or growing an idea, skill, or physical body
to grow
?physical or biological progression
,to build up
?increasing strength or capacity
📝 In Action
Necesitamos desarrollar un plan de acción.
B1We need to develop an action plan.
Él hace ejercicio para desarrollar sus músculos.
A2He exercises to develop his muscles.
💡 Grammar Points
A regular 'ar' verb
This verb follows the standard pattern for verbs ending in -ar, making it easy to conjugate once you know the basics.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Spelling: Double 'r' and double 'l'
Mistake: "Writing 'desarolar' or 'desarrollar' with one 'r'."
Correction: Always use two 'r's after the first syllable and two 'l's at the end. Think of 'roll' in English to remember the double 'l'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Abstract vs. Concrete
You can use this for physical things like muscles, or abstract things like a business strategy.
Painting a birdhouse illustrates the act of carrying out a specific task or project.
desarrollar(verb)
to carry out
?performing a task, project, or role
to execute
?implementing a plan
,to elaborate
?explaining a theory or topic in detail
📝 In Action
El científico desarrolló su teoría durante años.
B2The scientist elaborated his theory over years.
Ella desarrolla su trabajo con mucha profesionalidad.
B1She carries out her work with great professionalism.
💡 Grammar Points
Action vs. Growth
In formal contexts, this verb describes the act of 'doing' or 'performing' a professional duty.
⭐ Usage Tips
Writing Essays
Use this word when you want to say you are going to 'explain' or 'go into detail' about a point in your writing.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: desarrollar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence means 'We are building a new app'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'crecer' and 'desarrollar'?
'Crecer' usually means to get bigger in size (like a child growing taller). 'Desarrollar' implies a more complex process of improvement, maturity, or creation (like developing a skill or a project).
Is it 'desarrollar' or 'desarollar'?
It is always 'desarrollar' with two 'l's. A good trick is to remember it comes from 'unrolling' (arrollar), which also has two 'l's.